Paypal actively blocking card payments for non-paypal users:

[Bikerdude]

I have been trying to buy an item for the last few days and finally got to the bottom of what is happening -

1. A manager at PayPal told me that because PayPal & eBay are splitting they are now blocking cards that have been used a number of times via a PayPal guest account, the guest account is created when the buyer just wants to use their credit card without signing up for PayPal account.

• He then informed me that if I signed up for a PayPal account I could continue to make payment with my credit card - so in effect PayPal are attempting to black people into signing up for a PayPal account.
• I asked the manager for above explanation in writing he refused, I asked for his full name and he refused, so predictably I suggested he find a long sharp pointy thing and insert it where the sun dosent shine.

2. I have complained to eBay and have to wait 48hrs for a response. The supervisor confirmed that eBay and PayPal are splitting, and at present don't plan to offer any other payment platform other than PayPal. So in effect they are aiding and abetting the blackmail PayPal are trying to commit.

Who else can I complain to about this, which UK ombudsmen would this come under? When I called my bank, then said they were getting a load of calls from people with this issue but didn't know why until I told them about it.

 

Another reason (as if we didn't have enough already) to avoid PayPal where ever possible. The irony of all this is it will be costing PayPal and eBay money and customers.

[VanishedOne]

PayPal have been limiting accountless payments for years: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/merchantpaymentweb?cmd=xpt/UserAgreement/ua/PolicyPrivacyWax-outside(paragraph 4). I remember pointing it out to Bandcamp a couple of years ago, since http://bandcamp.com/buying_without_paypal doesn't mention it. Hopefully the split from eBay will bring it to wider attention.

 

As for the relevant ombudsman, probably http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/faq/index.htmbut you could see whether https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ have any suggestions.

[ShadeDrifter]

I always hear of PayPal being up to shady antics, though I don't pay them enough mind to know specifically what.

[OrbWeaver]

I am no lawyer but I very much doubt that a payment processor requiring users to sign up before using their service is breaking any laws. So I suspect you can complain to whoever you want but the only response will be along the lines of "If you don't like PayPal, don't use their service".

[Springheel]

I don't even understand what the issue is. Why should companies be expected to allow unregistered use of their service, especially when it revolved around processing money?

[DeusXIncognita]

Why should companies be expected to allow unregistered use of their service, especially when it revolved around processing money?

I am not entirely sure I understood it right, but to me it sounds like this: To pay money to someone with a paypal account (with a credit card), you have to sign up with paypal.

 

The point of a credit card is easy paying without further hassle.

[chakkman]

Nevermind.

Edited May 1, 2015 by chakkman

[Bikerdude]

So I suspect you can complain to whoever you want but the only response will be along the lines of "If you don't like PayPal, don't use their service".

A valid point, but the issue here is I as the consumer am not being given any choice in the matter. I am not actually choosing to use PayPal as the payment provider, eBay is only listing PP.

I don't even understand what the issue is. Why should companies be expected to allow unregistered use of their service, especially when it revolved around processing money?

1. because they have been contracted to by eBay and 2. because they are making money from the transaction.

To pay money to someone with a PayPal account (with a credit card), you have to sign up with PayPal.

No, PayPal offer the service that enables people and business's to take card payments to their PayPal accounts from people without a PP account. PP charges for this via a transaction fee, so WTF they are blocking non-paypal consumers is asinine as they are loosing money they would have made on the txn fee..